• Install surge protectors, including a whole-house surge protector if possible. Surge protectors can help protect appliances and electronic equipment from the surge of electricity caused by lightning strikes. 
• Add a lightning protection system: a lightning protection system, often including lightning rods and grounding systems, can divert lightning strikes away from the building, reducing the risk of fire or damage. 
• Unplug electronic devices during a storm and seeking shelter at the lowest point in your home if you are home during a storm.  

Lightning remains a costly and unpredictable threat for homeowners. Lightning strikes can cause extensive damage to electrical systems, appliances, and even structural issues. The damage underscores the critical need for homeowners to be aware of the risks, invest in protective measures, and stay prepared, especially in high-risk regions where lightning strikes are most frequent and damaging. 

After a lightning storm, homeowners are encouraged to look for these common signs of lightning damage: 

• Charring — a lightning-strike site is often charred by lightning's intense heat. If you believe your home was struck by lightning, consider inspecting the property for burnt patches and charring. 
• Damaged electrical switches — similarly, the power surges sometimes caused by lightning can lead to burnt electrical switches. 
• Roof and wall damage — lightning can damage a roof or wall to the point of causing holes or reducing a home’s structural integrity. 
• Report lightning damage/claim to insurance as soon as possible to begin repair and recovery process. 

Consider taking extra precautions to prep your home if you live in a top lightning state. The Top 10 states for lightning claims according to Triple-I’s national industry average based on State Farm claims data are:

1. Florida 
2. Texas 
3. California 
4. Georgia 
5. North Carolina 
6. Louisiana 
7. Alabama 
8. New York 
9. Pennsylvania 
10. Illinois 
 

“Mission Leaders like State Farm are vital to our work, helping drive innovation across our organization, providing capacity to respond immediately in times of crisis," said Cliff Holtz, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “I am grateful for their support, which safeguards our ability to care for those in need when the unthinkable happens."

State Farm has a long history of providing grants to non-profits after disaster strikes a community. This new approach to pre-fund grants before disaster strikes aims to help provide streamlined and immediate support of disaster relief efforts. The goal of pre-funding is to support non-profit preparedness, relief and recovery efforts for communities and families impacted by disasters big and small – including hurricanes, floods, home fires and countless other crises – as efficiently and timely as possible. 

“Being a good neighbor is at the heart of the State Farm mission,” said Apsara Sorensen, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Assistant Vice President. “State Farm is committed to helping individuals and families manage the risks of everyday life and recover from the unexpected. We extend this commitment to the neighborhoods we serve by providing resources and collaborating with nonprofit organizations with a history of disaster response, providing immediate relief and vital necessities during times of need.”

"This proactive support ensures that Midwest Food Bank is ready to respond swiftly when natural disasters strike. Thanks to their commitment, we can bring hope and help to those in need, demonstrating the power of partnership in action," said Lisa Martin, CFO of Midwest Food Bank.

According to Ethan Forhetz, Convoy of Hope VP of Public Engagement, "This grant ensures that Convoy disaster response teams will stand ready to deliver hope to those whose lives have been turned upside down.” 

A natural phenomenon, lightning can cause extensive damage to ecosystems, property, and sometimes lead to death. Knowing and managing the risks associated with lightning can help protect your family and property.

Lightning Safety Tips:

If lightning is common in your area, familiarize yourself with ways to reduce risk before and during a lightning storm. For example:

• Go indoors at the first sign of a storm.
• Avoid touching electronics or anything with a cord, such as your hair dryer.
• Stay away from water sources, including pipes, sinks and showers.
• Do not stand or lean on concrete structures. Metal bars inside the concrete can conduct electricity.
• Seek shelter in a hard-top vehicle if you're stuck outside. Also avoid sitting inside convertible cars, golf carts and motorcycles.
• If swimming or boating when lightning is present, get out of the water and onto dry land.
• Do not touch metal surfaces, such as a sliding door.
• Avoid touching anything served by gas lines, such as water heaters, ovens, furnaces and fireplaces.
• If you're outside and shelter isn't available, crouch down at least 100 feet from tall objects, tuck your head in and cover your ears.
• If someone has been struck by lightning, call 911 or your local ambulance service immediately. If you are qualified, give the person first aid. Lightning victims are safe to touch and need medical attention right away.

Invest in lightning protection

Your best bet for stopping lightning damage in its tracks may be a lightning protection system tailored specifically to your home's architecture. Such a system creates a pathway for lightning bolts, guiding them safely into the ground.

Install lightning surge protection devices

Lightning strikes on or near a power line or utility service are a frequent cause of power surges. Point-of-use surge protection devices (SPDs), combined with a good grounding system, should protect your electronic and electrical appliances from most electrical surges. An SPD does not suppress or arrest a surge; it actually diverts the surge to the ground.

Service entrance SPDs provide protection for your entire electrical system and are usually installed at the electrical panel(s) or at the base of the service meter. These devices help prevent the entrance of overvoltages, which can cause a fire. Surge protection devices are typically installed in conjunction with a lightning protection system.

Lightning Insurance

While there isn't a policy for lightning alone, your homeowners, condo, or renters’ policy can help get you get you back on your feet if lightning does strike. You can also contact your insurance agent if you have coverage questions about damage due to lightning.

We’re celebrating Good Neighbor Month by highlighting a few of the 2022 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant winners!

“Getting $25,000 is like winning the lottery and will allow us to provide more training and more employment for a young adult with a disability,” said Lisa Graham, founder and director of Brewhaus Bakery & Dog Bones in Cincinnati, OH.

Watch the video to see the positive impact of Neighborhood Assist grants on these communities. #GoodNeighborCheck

In commemoration of its 100th anniversary, State Farm® is dedicating $2 million dollars to create safer, stronger more resilient communities.

The grants, known as the Century of Good, will support projects focused on a range of community-specific environmental priorities. These include improving air quality and energy efficiency, addressing climate change, improving recycling rates and conserving green spaces.

Building stronger neighborhoods together

Up to $500,000 in funding will be provided to community-based organizations within Bloomington, Illinois, Normal, Illinois, Atlanta, Georgia, Tempe, Arizona and Dallas, Texas.

Cultivating a healthy, sustainable environment

The grantees include:

City of Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department (Bloomington, IL) is working to provide current and future generations a sense of community, preserved green spaces, and diverse programs. Century of Good grant funding will be leveraged for revitalization projects at O’Neil Park, including native planting.

Town of Normal Parks & Recreation Department (Normal, IL) provides citizens and visitors with a clean, safe, environmentally pleasant community. Century of Good grant funding will be used to support revitalization projects at Carden Park and the Constitution Trail.

The Ecology Action Center (EAC) (Normal, IL) serves as a central resource for environmental education, outreach and assistance. To improve air quality, reduce carbon sequestration and provide watershed protection, the EAC launched a tree planting program in 2021. Its goal is to plant 100,000 new trees in McLean County over the next 10 years.

Live Thrive (Atlanta, GA) diverts household hazardous waste from landfills and water systems by providing a permanent drop-off facility for hard to recycle items. The organization is expanding, with plans to open a new location.

Trust for Public Land (Dallas, TX) helps communities raise money, conduct research, protect land and design/renovate parks, playgrounds, trails and gardens. It’s working to expand park and trail access to impacted neighborhoods while improving health, education and equitable development in Southern Dallas.

The Office of Sustainability (Tempe, AZ) is mitigating the negative effects of extreme heat. Collaborating with local school districts, first responders and businesses, Tempe is planning to address storm water retention, plant native trees and outfit public buildings with renewable energy.

To learn more about the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, visit esg.statefarm.com.

This year, the program will award 100 $25,000 grants (vs. 40 grants in previous years) to nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects. Additionally, we’re doubling the number of cause submissions to 4,000.

“State Farm Neighborhood Assist truly embodies the spirit of what our company has been about for 100 years-being a good neighbor,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president at State Farm. “We are excited about expanding the program in 2022 to help even more neighborhoods.”

Here’s how the program works:

Submission Phase: Starts February 16 and ends when 4,000 submissions are reached

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting February 16 at 1pm ET. You can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide. We will accept the first 4,000 submissions. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: April 27-May 6

Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days, from April 27-May 6, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: June 7

The 100 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, June 7, at www.neighborhoodassist.com

Last year, 125,000 people cast more than 3 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began in 2012, more than 380 causes have received a total of $10 million to enact change in their communities.

Up to 100 participants from across the country are eligible to receive $500 awards to complete a planned wildfire risk reduction project on the event day, Saturday, May 7, 2022. To be considered for a project funding award, participants must submit an application by Monday, February 28, 2022. Apply for an award.

The national campaign, which began in 2014, provides an opportunity for groups and individuals who live in wildfire-prone areas to come together on a single day to complete projects that can help make their homes and communities safer from wildfire. Research shows risks can be lessened when residents invest time in preparing their homes and landscaping to reduce the damage caused by embers during a wildfire. Projects undertaken on Preparedness Day, which can range from a short time commitment up to an entire day, can include:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of three to five feet of a home’s foundation, continuing up to a 30-foot distance around the home, as time permits, and disposing of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Clearing roofs and gutters of dead leaves, debris, and pine needles that could catch embers.
• Collecting downed tree limbs and broken branches and taking them to a disposal site.
• Screening or boxing-in areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to prevent debris and combustible materials from accumulating.

 “Major wildfire incidents resulting in thousands of destroyed homes continue to occur annually in the U.S. and are quickly becoming the dominant type of fire that causes catastrophic multiple deaths and structure loss,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Homeowners need to understand they have a role to play and that they can take action in reducing wildfire risk. Preparedness Day 2022 gives people the chance to not only make a difference in safety on event day but all through the year as well.”

According to the latest NFPA “Fire Safety in the United States since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem” report, one million homes were within the perimeter of human-caused wildland/urban interface (WUI) fires from 1992 – 2015, and more than 60 million homes were threatened by such incidents in the same 24-year period. Data from annual reports from NFPA of catastrophic multiple death fires state that a total of 248 people have died in WUI fires from 1988 through 2018.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, how to apply for funding awards, project ideas, and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm recognizes the good neighbor spirit in the organizations that will be implementing these community improvement projects,” said Rasheed Merritt, Assistant Vice President at State Farm. “We are proud to support their efforts.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in June at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the 10 years of the program, more than 380 causes have received a total of $10 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

It’s here that the remarkable service of State Farm shines. Bringing the largest disaster response in the industry means a coordinated effort of people, technology and resources, all working together to provide exceptional service to policyholders and support to the community.

State Farm is there

State Farm Claims specialists assist customers at Louisiana Customer Care sites

In addition to thousands of employees remotely helping thousands of customers on the phone and online, State Farm claims operations are on site, day after day, helping policyholders in impacted areas.

In support of Ida response, State Farm set up seven mobile Customer Care sites – four in Louisiana and three in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These operations bring claims teams and customers together to inspect vehicles, help with questions, and disburse payments.

Over the last two weeks, more than 1,500 customers have been given in-person help at our Louisiana Customer Care sites. So far, our overall claims operations have been able to reach more than 90% of customers who have filed a homeowner claim related to Ida, with 1 in 4 of those claims already settled.

Neighbors helping neighbors

A big part of the State Farm difference is the 19,000 State Farm agents who live and work in the same communities as our policyholders. That means that in addition to access by phone, app, and web site, State Farm customers have a State Farm agent right there in the neighborhood, ready to talk through your hopes, plans, and needs. And when disaster happens, they are neighbors ready to help.

In the wake of Ida, State Farm agents reached out to customers in impacted areas to help the recovery process.

Agent Courtney Gulledge of Harahan, La., lived up to that promise when one of her policyholders, Tassanee Nirandorn, received severe damage to his home. Courtney used draft authority, which allows agents to directly disburse payment toward the settlement of a claim. By providing an advance on claim payments, we can help customers start the process of recovery. Nirandorn was pleased with this service, saying, “On the news, all I have heard is that insurance companies are a pain to deal with, but that has not been my experience. State Farm has been exceptional during this process.”

Supporting the larger community

In addition to helping policyholders recover from the unexpected, State Farm has used its philanthropic resources to support community organizations that are helping the recovery process.

State Farm has issued $900,000 in disaster-relief grants to community organizations in Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, plus a $10,000 grant to the Midwest Food Bank in Illinois to provide support to multiple Ida-impacted areas.

Louisiana:

• $400,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $150,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
• $100,000 to support Northshore Community Foundation
• $100,000 to support The Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma – Thibodaux

Northeast:

• $50,000 to support American Red Cross New Jersey Region
• $50,000 to support American Red Cross Greater New York Region
• $25,000 to support American Red Cross Southeastern Philadelphia Region
• $25,000 to support the Philabundance organization

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we are truly proud to work alongside partners such as State Farm who have raised their hand to support thousands of families impacted by this devastating storm,” said Lindsay Mathieson, regional disaster officer of the American Red Cross of Louisiana. “It is that generous support that allows us to provide much-needed comfort and care to help the people who need it most.”

Said Natalie Jayroe, Second Harvest Food Bank President and CEO, “This major support from State Farm will be critical to our response to this latest disaster impacting South Louisiana. Our deepest thanks go out to the entire State Farm team and their customers.”

The work continues

Recovering from a disaster like Hurricane Ida will take time. State Farm claims operations will continue the work of serving impacted policyholders in the weeks and months ahead. More than 98,000 total claims have been received so far for Hurricane Ida-related damage, and every one of those claims is a life changed by this storm.

Being a good neighbor is about more than just one moment or just one act. For State Farm, it means continuing the work until every last claim has been handled and finding ways to help our communities thrive. When the unexpected happens, State Farm is there to help policyholders and communities recover.

State Farm’s response to Hurricane Ida began before the storm made landfall. Thousands of State Farm agents and employees began to mobilize and prepare to respond to our customers’ needs prior to the storm’s arrival.

The State Farm response to Ida is both local and national. It includes State Farm agents who live and work in the same neighborhoods as our customers; teams of claim specialists trained in disaster response traveling in to evaluate damage on site; thousands of employees in centralized care centers across the country helping answer customers’ questions and file their claims; remote claim teams conducting virtual inspections with impacted customers; and many other resources, all helping customers in their time of need.

Delivering on the promise

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, State Farm began claim inspections in areas safe for entry, focusing on the most severe damage first where possible.

Agents and Customer Care Center employees have responded to thousands of customer calls, helping customers understand their coverage and how the claim process works, including aspects of coverage that come into play when damage is especially severe.

When storms such as Ida cause severe damage to homes, customers may be displaced. Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage under a Homeowners or Renters policy is triggered when a covered loss causes the residence to become uninhabitable. ALE can cover some increased costs such as housing, meals, and mileage.

Some media reports are incorrectly suggesting ALE does not apply without a mandatory evacuation having been ordered. These reports are seemingly focused on one portion of our ALE coverage for affected policyholders: Prohibited Use. We are addressing the needs of displaced customers. State Farm is paying, and will pay, thousands of Prohibited Use and ALE claims to our policyholders following Hurricane Ida

For customers who have a loss covered under ALE due to the extent of damage to their home, that loss adjustment occurs regardless of the type of evacuation order in their neighborhood. Once a State Farm customer reports a claim to us, we will evaluate their damage. The process from there depends on many factors including the extent of damage and accessibility of the property. (We’re working with local authorities for access when it’s safe.)

We are here for all of our customers and are committed to pay what we owe. State Farm’s policies in Louisiana, the Northeast and other states, are filed with and approved by state insurance regulators in each state, respectively. State Farm honors the terms of the contract with our customers. Altering the terms of the contract for one event would be unfair to all those who have experienced loss from previous disasters.

Getting a boost from technology

In addition to on-site physical inspection of claims and the service provided by local agents, State Farm is making the most of technology to reach customers in more ways and make the process of resolving claims even faster and easier.

• Virtual claim handling allows customers to conduct real-time inspections of damage with remote claim teams through their smartphone cameras.
• Use of drones and aerial imagery allow State Farm to quickly assess damage and accessibility of storm-impacted areas, and to conduct roof inspections in a way that is safe, efficient and supports social distancing.
• Digital pay options allow for claim settlements to be direct-deposited into customers’ bank accounts, getting funds to customers more quickly, whether or not banks are open.
• Customers are encouraged to use the State Farm Mobile App and online account access for many self-service options such as filing and tracking claims, uploading documents during the claim process, requesting emergency roadside service, setting up a rental car reservation, and setting up digital pay. 
   

 
Crews work to assemble the Customer Care Site in Gonzales, LA

Bringing in-person service where it’s needed most

To provide convenient local service to customers, mobile Customer Care Sites are being set up in multiple locations near the hardest-hit areas of Louisiana. These sites allow customers to receive in-person support with claim handling and disbursement of payments.

Louisiana Customer Care Sites include:

1. Gonzales: 306 Louisiana 30 W, Gonzales, LA 70737 (map)
2. Houma: 6795 West Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364 (map)
3. New Orleans: 8282 I-10 Service Rd, New Orleans, LA 70126 (map)
4. Covington: 69348 Louisiana State Hwy 21, Covington, LA 70433 (map)

Northeast Customer Care Sites include:

1. Livingston, NJ: 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ 07039 (map)
2. Horsham, PA: 200 Blair Mill Road, Horsham, PA 19044 (map)
3. Queens County, NY: Opening soon

To help agents in impacted areas better serve their customers, agency “command centers” are being set up to provide office space and phone/internet connection to agents who have themselves been impacted by damage from Ida.

Being good neighbors in the community

In addition to assisting our customers directly, State Farm is also helping overall recovery efforts with charitable grants to assist with immediate shelter, food, water, and clothing needs in Louisiana.

State Farm has issued eight Disaster Recovery Grants, for a total of $900,000, to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida:

Louisiana:

• $400,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $150,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
• $100,000 to support Northshore Community Foundation
• $100,000 to support The Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma – Thibodaux

Northeast:

• $50,000 to support American Red Cross New Jersey Region
• $50,000 to support American Red Cross Greater New York Region
• $25,000 to support American Red Cross Southeastern Philadelphia Region
• $25,000 to support the Philabundance organization

Along with these disaster grants, in the days following landfall, State Farm deployed its Customer Response Unit vehicles. These vans drive through impacted neighborhoods and hand out basic essentials to residents such as water, food, work gloves, flashlights, and first-aid kits. During their deployment for Ida, the CRUs have each covered more than 1,300 miles through 18 cities and eight parishes.

The response continues

The impact of Hurricane Ida continued after it moved on from the Gulf Coast, with effects reaching all the way into the northeast U.S., including intense flooding in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

State Farm is the nation’s largest home and auto insurer, with the capacity to serve customers through multiple simultaneous disasters. Already, State Farm has received more than 72,000 claims related to the impact of Ida – more than 42,000 in Louisiana and more than 25,000 in the northeast. This is happening all while the same level of service is being provided to those suffering the effects of wildfires in the western U.S., and everywhere else severe weather is impacting State Farm customers.

The story of any major weather event is a long one. The process of recovering, rebuilding, and re-establishing a sense of “normal” can take weeks, months, or even years. State Farm is here to help our customers get through this difficult time.

In addition to the listed efforts below, State Farm has also issued two Disaster Recovery Grants to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida.

• $200,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $50,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans

What We’re Doing

Our catastrophe response team is currently assisting customers following Hurricane Ida. We are committed to handling each customer’s claim, bringing the necessary resources and the largest catastrophe response effort in the industry for the benefit of our customers. Here are some of the many ways State Farm is helping with Hurricane Ida relief efforts.

• State Farm agents, agent’s staff and local employees will be available to help customers with their claims as we begin recovery. We are mobilizing teams of claim adjusters, trained for disaster response, to be ready to respond all across the affected areas.
• State Farm policyholders who have damage from can submit and manage their claim through various channels. This includes calling or emailing their State Farm agent, calling 1-800-SFCLAIM, submitting a claim through our mobile app or through our website at statefarm.com/claims.
• In addition to our on-the-ground catastrophe response team, we also have thousands of employees handling claims across the country in our centralized operations – three Centralized Catastrophe Services (CCS) operations and our Initial Loss Reporting (ILR) teams.
  • Our CCS employees work closely with our “on-the-ground” team to efficiently handle our customers’ claims. Our ILR teams are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help our customers report losses and begin the claim process. Our ILR associates are available by phones, mobile app and Internet reporting.
     
• State Farm also has the advantage of a fleet of mobile claim handling facilities, innovatively designed to support our ability to provide optimal customer service even under challenging conditions. Vehicles will be deployed as catastrophe needs require.
• We are helping customers in more ways, and right now that means leveraging technology and offering virtual claim handling when appropriate.
• We encourage customers to take photos of all damage and have temporary repairs made to prevent further damage, but only if it’s safe to do so. And to keep their receipts for reimbursement. Customers with damage are urged to report their claim as soon as possible.
• Finally, State Farm is also helping with the recovery efforts with charitable grants to the Louisiana Red Cross and the Second Harvest Food Bank to help with immediate shelter, food, water, and clothing needs.

Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit based in San Antonio, received a grant in both 2019 and 2020.

“Our mission is to provide aid, comfort and resources to our service members, wounded heroes and veterans of all generations,” said Soldiers’ Angels President Amy Palmer.

San Antonio is home to 153,000 veterans -- the most densely populated veteran community in Texas, with more than 7 percent earning income that is below the national poverty level. The low-income veterans served by Soldiers’ Angels have tremendous needs – food, transportation, physical hygiene, housing, to name a few. Through its programs, Soldiers’ Angels honors these veterans by providing for these critical needs so they can maintain a stable and self-sufficient standard of living.

“We do large, once-a-month food distributions, where we distribute about 25,000 pounds of food to veterans,” Amy said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the requests for services has increased almost 60%. Thanks to help from the Neighborhood Assist grant, Soldiers’ Angels was able to keep providing these services, helping more than 2,700 veterans and their families.

To help address the impact of tree loss on communities across the country, State Farm® and the Arbor Day Foundation are announcing a new collaboration to replant trees and help build more resilience in disaster-impacted areas.

State Farm is committing $1 million to the Arbor Day Foundation in support of tree planting and reforestation projects throughout the remainder of 2021.

“Trees play a vital role in the stability of our communities and their resilience against disaster,” said State Farm Vice President of Administrative Services Jenny Greminger, who oversees the company’s environmental sustainability team. “Replanting in a strategic way will help impacted areas recover and potentially better withstand severe weather in the future.”

In consultation with the Arbor Day Foundation, key areas impacted by natural disasters have been identified in fifteen states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Utah). These areas, including several national forests, will host reforestation, tree planting, and tree giveaway events starting this spring and running through the fall.

Specific events will be announced as they are confirmed. Events will address local challenges including losses from wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes, as well as urban heat islands and emerald ash borer infestation.

This new collaboration follows the recent announcement from State Farm of a commitment to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the end of 2030, and the release of the company’s first-ever Environmental, Social, and Governance report. These efforts are the first announced by State Farm as part of its “Good Neighbors. Better World.” initiative, in which the company is emphasizing social and environmental responsibility as essential aspects of doing business.
 

Did You Know? Quick facts on trees from the Arbor Day Foundation

Click the images below to learn more about some of the many benefits of trees for health, the economy, and everyday life.

Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist^®. The program awards $25,000 grants to 40 nonprofit organizations to help fund neighborhood improvement projects.

According to a recent State Farm research study, one-quarter of respondents say they are “extremely” or “very” involved in trying to improve their neighborhood and six-in-10 are trying to improve their neighborhood in some capacity.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist can be a catalyst for that change.

Here’s how the program works:

Submission Phase: Starts June 2 and ends when 2,000 submissions are reached

Individuals can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com starting June 2. You can prepare now by going to the website and downloading the submission guide. We will accept the first 2,000 submissions. The State Farm Review Committee will then narrow the field to the Top 200 finalists using a scoring rubric.

Voting Phase: August 18-27

Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days, from Aug. 18-27, for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Winners Announced: September 29

The 40 causes that receive the most votes will each win a $25,000 grant. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

“State Farm is pleased to bring back Neighborhood Assist for its tenth year,” said Rasheed Merritt, assistant vice president at State Farm. “This program is all about building stronger neighborhoods together.”

Last year, 145,000 people cast 3.9 million votes in support of their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Since the program began, more than 340 causes have received a total of $9 million to enact change in their communities.

Preparedness Day encourages people and organizations to come together on a single day to take action to raise awareness and reduce wildfire risks, and it provides a platform to share information and offer guidance to residents as they make changes to improve the survival of their homes and neighborhoods.  Thanks to support from State Farm, 150 grant recipients across 24 states will receive project funding awards of $500 each to support their wildfire mitigation activities on Preparedness Day. See the list of winners.

Over the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed a steady rise in wildfire activity. Experts predict this trend will continue. Despite the $2 to $3 billion per year to support wild land fire suppression efforts, the number of homes lost in wildfires per year has increased by more than 160 percent.

Wildfire risk exists in all 50 states. There is still time to make homes and communities safer from wildfire. NFPA and State Farm encourage people to get involved by planning a project and participating on May 1. Take the first step with the help of the free NFPA Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Toolkit. NFPA suggests a three-stage process to reduce wildfire fuel and fashion a buffer around property. To create defensible space and reduce your risk:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3 to 5 feet of a home’s foundation. As time permits, continue up to a 30-foot distance around the home. Dispose of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Cleaning pine needles from roof and gutters and paying attention to maintaining the home ignition zone.
• Getting out your measuring tape and seeing how close wood piles are located to the home. If closer than 30 feet, they need to be relocated and moved at least 30’ away from structures.
• Sweeping porches and decks clearing them of leaves and pine needles. Raking under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
• Removing items stored under decks and porches and relocating them to a storage shed, garage, or basement. Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should never be stored indoors and should be located away from the home.
• Posting and sharing Facebook and Twitter messages with tips and best practices with others in your community. (See sample posts from NFPA here.)

State Farm also recommends policyholders:

• Review your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in the event of a wildfire
• Create a home inventory to assist in the claims process
• Create a disaster preparedness plan that includes your pets and animals

For more resources and information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day including videos and tip sheets, visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

Those actions are shared in our first-ever annual report detailing our progress in environmental, social, and governance areas. One example is how in 2020, our national and local philanthropic giving totaled nearly $57 million—with more than $16 million supporting pandemic relief. State Farm invested an additional $10 million in minority and women small business owners in the Company’s home state of Illinois.

And—because cleaner air helps make a better world—State Farm is committing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by the end of 2030.

We have renewable or carbon-free power purchase agreements for several of our main employee campuses and we’re actively exploring sustainable solutions for fleet vehicles, energy efficiency capital projects, green natural gas – plus how to engage employees individually toward this target.

This step is just the first in our continuing efforts to being good stewards of the neighborhoods we serve.

Download the 2020 ESG Highlights infographic

This ESG report, the first of its kind in the Company’s history, summarizes 2020 State Farm work in the areas of environmental sustainability, social impact, and responsible governance of company operations.

“For nearly one hundred years, State Farm has functioned on the belief that being a good neighbor means being good stewards of the neighborhoods we serve,” said State Farm Chairman, President & CEO Michael Tipsord. “We want to help make a better world by building resilient futures, empowering good neighbors, and protecting what matters.”

Highlights of the new report include:

• Increased energy efficiency: More than 80% of State Farm facilities have an Energy Star Score of 75 or higher.
• $100 million committed in support for minority communities for issues of racial equity and justice over the next 5 years.
• 98,000 hours of employee & agent volunteering, which generated $647,500 in related grant funding
• Evolving workforce demographics: women comprise 57% of employees and 37% of executive roles. Minorities hold 24% of executive roles.

To accompany this report on 2020 activity, State Farm is also announcing a new environmental commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by the end of 2030.

State Farm is the largest auto and homeowner insurance provider in the U.S., with more than 85 million policies and accounts.

Download the 2020 ESG Highlights infographic

January 11, 2021 – The threat of wildfire is becoming increasingly prevalent and dangerous, posing greater risks to people and property than ever before. With challenges to holding large public gatherings in many areas this year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm® are hosting the eighth annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (Preparedness Day) event on Saturday, May 1, 2021 with a focus on what homeowners can do now to help protect their personal property from wildfire.

Years of scientific research support the prescription of removing fuel sources from the area around the home – known as the “home ignition zone” – and is a key component to making a home safe from embers and radiant heat from wildfires. Simple, low cost home improvement projects such as clearing dead leaves, debris, and pine needles from roofs and gutters, keeping lawns and native grasses mowed to a height of four inches, removing anything stored underneath decks or porches that could burn, and other similar actions are being actively supported by NFPA and State Farm on Preparedness Day and can be easily undertaken by the majority of homeowners.

Since 2014, community groups and individuals have taken part in the campaign, completing hundreds of wildfire safety projects across the United States. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their homes and community a safer place to live.

Financial support from State Farm will once again enable NFPA to provide 150 applicants from across the country with $500 awards to complete a wildfire risk reduction project on Saturday, May 1. Project applications can be submitted through February 26, 2021. Apply for an award.

Over the past decade, the U.S. has witnessed a steady increase in wildfire activity. Experts predict this trend will remain. Despite billions of dollars to support wildland fire suppression efforts, the number of homes lost in wildfires per year has increased by 163 percent and wildfires now cost the U.S. an estimated $63 to $285 billion per year in losses.

“There are nearly 45 million homes in areas prone to wildfire today, and wildfire risk is nearly present in every state,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “In preparation for a future with more wildfire activity, homeowners need to understand their role and take action in reducing wildfire risk. Preparedness Day 2021 offers communities a unique opportunity to engage in this process.”

“State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, State Farm Underwriting Analyst.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, funding awards, project ideas, and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Tips to help prepare for and recover from wildfires
• What to Do After a House Fire

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Long after the news cycle moves on from one West Coast wildfire to the next, from one land-falling tropical system to the next, State Farm^® crews and resources remain in those neighborhoods to help people recover from the unexpected.

Early in a disaster, waves of support come in the form of needed supplies and manpower. But after those first waves subside, the need remains.

To assist, State Farm has issued $250,000 in grants to on-the-ground nonprofits across California, Oregon and Washington.

State Farm actively supports charitable programs and volunteerism in communities across the country every day. But the company also sets aside special funding each year to respond to natural disasters and other crises. These extra funds supplement the support of agents and Claims teams in these communities. They help meet ongoing human services needs (food and shelter) and future prevention projects.

And the good neighbor spirit of agents further extends the reach of the company’s on-the-ground charitable arm.

Wildfires today are extremely different and more dangerous than they were in the past. Wildfires are burning closer to homes, businesses and populated communities compared to previously being events that happen only in forests.

“Today, more families and business owners are being displaced when a wildfire occurs because of evacuation orders and loss of residences and businesses,” Senior Vice President Annette Martinez said. “This leads to an immediate need for shelter, food, evacuation help and medical assistance. These grants will support those recovery efforts.”

“The West Coast recovery effort will be an enormous task,” Director of Corporate Responsibility Ed Woods said. “The organizations receiving grant support through this relief package are some of the first organizations to respond to the devastation and will continue to provide assistance during the recovery phase.”

In addition to the wildfires on the West Coast, State Farm has provided disaster response grants for the Iowa derecho, Hurricane Laura and Nashville tornadoes.

Louisiana agent spearheads Hurricane Laura donation drive

Laura bore down on Lake Charles, La., last month as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest to strike the state since 1856. In the aftermath, shattered structures, crumpled cars and dangling power lines bore witness to the strength of the storm.

Blake Wheelis is an agent in West Monroe, La., about 200 miles north of Lake Charles. He saw his state smacked yet again by a monstrous storm, only 15 years after Hurricane Katrina.

“Monroe was heavily impacted but nothing like the devastation in Lake Charles,” he said. “My heart hurt for them, so I mobilized efforts to help.”

Blake sent a note to fellow agents telling them about the devastation in his home state. He also created a way anyone can donate to help residents through United Way.

As of Sept. 23, more than $40,000 in donations have poured in.

“State Farm agents are doing what they always do — helping others when they need help,” Blake added. “The bond among us is unique.”

All donations will be used to help feed Lake Charles residents and assist with recovery.

“When all is said and done, none of us will be remembered for how we enjoyed times of prosperity, but we will be remembered for how we responded during times of adversity,” Blake said.

Early in a disaster, waves of support come in the form of needed supplies and manpower. But after those first waves subside, the need remains.

To assist, State Farm has issued $250,000 in grants to on-the-ground nonprofits across California, Oregon and Washington.

State Farm actively supports charitable programs and volunteerism in communities across the country every day. But the company also sets aside special funding each year to respond to natural disasters and other crises. These extra funds supplement the support of agents and Claims teams in these communities. They help meet ongoing human services needs (food and shelter) and future prevention projects.

And the good neighbor spirit of agents further extends the reach of the company’s on-the-ground charitable arm.

Wildfires today are extremely different and more dangerous than they were in the past. Wildfires are burning closer to homes, businesses and populated communities compared to previously being events that happen only in forests.

“Today, more families and business owners are being displaced when a wildfire occurs because of evacuation orders and loss of residences and businesses,” Senior Vice President Annette Martinez said. “This leads to an immediate need for shelter, food, evacuation help and medical assistance. These grants will support those recovery efforts.”

“The West Coast recovery effort will be an enormous task,” Director of Corporate Responsibility Ed Woods said. “The organizations receiving grant support through this relief package are some of the first organizations to respond to the devastation and will continue to provide assistance during the recovery phase.”

In addition to the wildfires on the West Coast, State Farm has provided disaster response grants for the Iowa derecho, Hurricane Laura and Nashville tornadoes.

Louisiana agent spearheads Hurricane Laura donation drive

Laura bore down on Lake Charles, La., last month as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest to strike the state since 1856. In the aftermath, shattered structures, crumpled cars and dangling power lines bore witness to the strength of the storm.

Blake Wheelis is an agent in West Monroe, La., about 200 miles north of Lake Charles. He saw his state smacked yet again by a monstrous storm, only 15 years after Hurricane Katrina.

“Monroe was heavily impacted but nothing like the devastation in Lake Charles,” he said. “My heart hurt for them, so I mobilized efforts to help.”

Blake sent a note to fellow agents telling them about the devastation in his home state. He also created a way anyone can donate to help residents through United Way.

As of Sept. 23, more than $40,000 in donations have poured in.

“State Farm agents are doing what they always do — helping others when they need help,” Blake added. “The bond among us is unique.”

All donations will be used to help feed Lake Charles residents and assist with recovery.

“When all is said and done, none of us will be remembered for how we enjoyed times of prosperity, but we will be remembered for how we responded during times of adversity,” Blake said.

The commitment includes a $4 million national grant to LISC to expand employment, revitalize commercial corridors, promote health and enhance community safety in 12 cities over the next two years. In addition, State Farm has set up a $10 million loan pool with LISC focused on its home state of Illinois. It will specifically address the needs of small businesses and community nonprofits hit hard by COVID-19 in Central Illinois communities like Peoria, Bloomington and Springfield, as well as Chicago.

“This year marks our 20-year anniversary of investing in LISC—an organization vital to connecting resources to communities in need,” said Annette Martinez, senior vice president for State Farm. “We know that together, we are creating economic opportunities to help communities grow and prosper—and providing relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations struggling due to COVID-19.”

The $10 million pool, announced in late April, will offer low-cost loans of up to $250,000, with LISC’s local program staff in Central Illinois and Chicago connecting with businesses and nonprofits to deploy capital. The loans are one piece of the larger State Farm COVID-19 relief strategy, which includes $2 billion in premium rebates to customers.

At the same time, the new grant from State Farm will fuel national outreach strategies, including support for staffing and tools focused on addressing the root causes of poor health in communities. Grant funds will further advance long-term community investment programs in 12 metro areas, with a particular focus on:

• Financial Opportunity Centers, which provide a range of integrated services to help people build financial stability—from job training and placement to financial coaching and income support.
• Commercial corridor revitalization and anti-displacement strategies in gentrifying communities, to catalyze economic vitality that benefits local residents.
• Community health and safety programs, such as “green” strategies for affordable housing and recreation programs that engage at-risk youth.

Implementation will vary to meet local needs. For example, the new State Farm grant will seed the opening of a new Financial Opportunity Center in Atlanta, so LISC can support financial and employment services for hundreds of residents. In Indianapolis, it will fuel a program that revitalizes underutilized industrial sites, creating jobs and economic vibrancy. In Milwaukee, it will advance public safety strategies that connect community members, businesses and law enforcement in common efforts, while also fueling “creative placemaking” activities to reduce crime. And, in Phoenix, it will support transit-oriented development plans that revitalize businesses in often-overlooked communities.

“Now, as we all face uncertain days ahead, State Farm has once again stepped up to help, both responding to the immediate crisis and continuing to support long-term opportunities for stability, opportunity and growth," said Maurice A. Jones, LISC CEO.

In addition to these four cities, the State Farm grant will support similar local efforts in the Bay Area (Oakland/San Francisco), Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Peoria, Ill., Philadelphia, and Tacoma, Wash.

“Even before the global health crisis, State Farm had long supported strategies to build stronger, more inclusive local economies where families and businesses could thrive,” said Maurice A. Jones, LISC president and CEO. “Now, as we all face uncertain days ahead, State Farm has once again stepped up to help, both responding to the immediate crisis and continuing to support long-term opportunities for stability, opportunity and growth. We are enormously grateful for their steadfast support.”

Over the last 20 years, State Farm has invested $149 million in LISC’s community development programs, leveraging more than $11 billion to build or rehabilitate 53,000 affordable homes, create more than 20 million square feet of retail, community, and educational space, and serve nearly 215,000 people through income- and wealth-building initiatives.

In the News:

• WGLT:  State Farm to Fund Load Programs for NonProfits (04/21/20) 

Thanks to support from State Farm, 150 communities across 26 states will receive project funding awards of $500 each to support activities aimed at reducing potential loss of life, property, and natural resources to wildfire. See this year’s list of winners.

Saturday, May 2 is national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. For the past seven years, this day has been a focal point for community projects to reduce wildfire risk. This year, due to COVID-19 and related state and local measures to combat its spread, NFPA and State Farm support communities postponing organized preparedness efforts until later in the year or such time that it is safe to do so.

In the meantime, NFPA is sharing ideas for actions that individuals and families can take to reduce wildfire risk and potential losses where they live, including:

• Raking and removing pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 3 to 5 feet of a home’s foundation. As time permits, continue up to a 30-foot distance around the home. Dispose of collected debris in appropriate trash receptacles.
• Cleaning pine needles from roof and gutters and paying attention to maintaining the home ignition zone.
• Getting out your measuring tape and seeing how close wood piles are located to the home. If closer than 30 feet, they need to be relocated and moved at least 30’ away from structures.
• Sweeping porches and decks clearing them of leaves and pine needles. Raking under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
• Mowing grasses to a height of four inches or less.
• Removing items stored under decks and porches and relocating them to a storage shed, garage, or basement. Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should never be stored indoors and should be located away from the home.
• Posting and sharing Facebook and Twitter messages with tips and best practices with others in your community. (See sample posts from NFPA here.)

Over the last few years wildfire events have made the need for preparedness activities more important than ever. In 2018, nearly all of the $13 billion in property damage and losses from large fire incidents in the U.S. was due to just six wildfires. As annual federal spending for wildfire management has gone from roughly $1 billion per year in the mid-1990’s to close to $4 billion per year today, the average annual area burned from wildfires has jumped from about two million to eight million acres over the same period.

For more information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day including videos and tip sheets, visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Tips to help prepare for and recover from wildfires
• What to Do After a House Fire

State Farm is providing funding to NFPA for the Preparedness Day event and a portion will be awarded to 150 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects being implemented on Saturday, May 2. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live.

Project applications can be submitted through February 29, 2020. Apply for an award.

Motivate neighbors and community members to work together to make where they live a safer place from wildfire.

During Preparedness Day 2019, hundreds of projects were undertaken across the United States. Of those projects, 150 received funding from State Farm for activities that helped make residents and firefighters safer when wildfires happen.

According to reports, on average, wildfires burn twice as much land area each year as they did 40 years ago, and the threat continues to increase. In 2018, California saw its deadliest and most destructive fire, the Camp Fire, burn more than 150,000 acres and claim the lives of 88 people. Wildfires once described by “seasons” are now burning earlier and later in the year across the U.S.

"According to the recent, staggering statistics, preparing our communities for wildfire is more critical today than ever before,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “NFPA and State Farm work closely together on this yearly campaign in a continued effort to raise awareness and educate homeowners that they have the power to save their homes and communities before a wildfire ignites, and we have the resources and information to help.”

“State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, underwriting analyst.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, funding awards, project ideas and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Tips to help prepare for and recover from wildfires
• What to Do After a House Fire

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them. It is part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® initiative.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country,” said Allison Bertsche, Public Affairs Director at State Farm. “We look forward to seeing the impact these Neighborhood Assist grants will have in their communities.”

Two thousand cause submissions were accepted in June at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists and public voting determined the 40 grant winners. In the eight years of the program, more than 300 causes have received a total of $8 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s winning causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Thanks to the support of State Farm, SkillsUSA will focus on instructor training that helps grow its local chapters. Instructors will receive the latest information and tools in employability skills training, leadership development and teaching strategies.

State Farm is supporting:

• SkillsUSA’s Engage training for teachers at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in June 2019
• Ongoing workshops on educational resources including the SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite, SkillsUSA’s flagship curriculum for middle school, high school, college/postsecondary and adult learners
• Materials and instruction at the 2019 Call to Action session, held exclusively for over 600 SkillsUSA instructors at the NLSC
• A teacher track during the Washington Leadership Training Institute in Washington, D.C., attended by SkillsUSA instructors from 28 states, in September 2019

In addition, SkillsUSA Championships supported by State Farm will include the 2019 Auto Refinishing, Collision Repair and Collision Damage Appraisal competitions, in which national competitors will test their skills against other students and the clock to industry standards for entry-level employees in these fields. State Farm support also includes a Prize Equity Fund for leadership events and a sector sponsorship for the transportation cluster at the national championships.

State Farm Insurance Companies, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., has been a SkillsUSA supporter for 20 years with a total investment of over $2.8 million.

“SkillsUSA salutes State Farm for supporting our nation’s top career and technical education programs as we work to prepare career-ready students,” says SkillsUSA’s executive director, Timothy Lawrence. “SkillsUSA is a verified talent pipeline and skills gap solution that graduates 100,000 career-ready SkillsUSA students each year. Our organization lifts up and recognizes students and provides much-needed support for their teachers to ensure America has a future skilled workforce. We could not deliver our crucial mission without companies like State Farm working alongside us.”

“It is extremely important to have highly skilled technicians in body shops across the nation writing collision damage appraisals, repairing the vehicles and refinishing them,” says State Farm Senior Vice President, Property and Casualty Claims, Robert Yi. “The SkillsUSA Championships set industry standards for students and educators and help to ensure that students graduating into these professions possess the knowledge and skills to be successful in their craft.”

For more about the 2019 SkillsUSA Championships, visit: https://www.skillsusa.org/competitions/skillsusa-championships/.

For more information about SkillsUSA, contact:

• Jane A. DeShong Short, Program Manager, Public Relations/Communications, Phone: 703-737-0612
• Karen Kitzel, Program Manager, Public Relations/Communications, Phone: 703-737-0607

Preparedness Day serves as an opportunity for residents to participate in wildfire safety activities. Thanks to the generous support from State Farm, 150 communities across 27 states will receive project funding awards of $500 each to support activities on Preparedness Day aimed at reducing potential loss of life, property, and natural resources to wildfire.

"Since NFPA and State Farm first partnered together on Preparedness Day, the number of projects has grown tremendously. We are pleased to provide 150 communities with a grant to fund their wildfire risk reduction activities on May 4," said Vickie Hodges, P&C underwriting analyst, State Farm. "For State Farm, the largest home insurer in the U.S., it is important to us to take a leadership role in helping homeowners stay safe and better protect their property."

Recent wildfire events make the need for Preparedness Day more important than ever before. Last year, California wildfires burned nearly one million acres, the largest amount of burned acreage recorded in a fire season. Several other states that experienced large fires in 2018 including Nevada, Utah, and Oklahoma, are putting the U.S. on pace to exceed the average acreage burned annually over the past 10 years.

"NFPA and State Farm are pleased to be working together on the Preparedness Day campaign," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. "Since our initial launch of Prep Day in 2013, participation has continued to grow. We are inspired by the number of residents who feel empowered to take the necessary steps to keep their homes and neighborhoods safer from wildfire."

There is still time to take action and NFPA and State Farm encourage people to get involved by planning a project and participating on May 4. Download a free Getting Started: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day Toolkit.

For more information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day including resources, videos, and tip sheets, and to see the list of winning projects and their locations, visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org.
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Protect Your Home from Wildfire
• State Farm Wildfire Mitigation
• What to Do After a House Fire

State Farm is providing funding to NFPA for the Preparedness Day event and a portion will be awarded to 150 neighborhood wildfire risk reduction projects being implemented on Saturday, May 4. Preparedness Day gives people of all ages a chance to plan and participate in a risk reduction or wildfire preparedness activity that makes their community a safer place to live.

Project applications can be submitted through March 1. Apply for an award.

Motivate neighbors and community members to work together to make where they live a safer place from wildfire.

During Preparedness Day 2018, more than 500 projects were undertaken in 32 states and the District of Columbia. Of those projects, 150 received funding from State Farm for activities that helped make residents and firefighters safer when wildfires happen.

According to reports, on average, wildfires burn twice as much land area each year as they did 40 years ago, and the threat continues to increase. In 2018, California saw its deadliest and most destructive fire, the Camp Fire, burn more than 150,000 acres and claim the lives of 85 people. Wildfires once described by “seasons” are now burning earlier and later in the year across the U.S.

"NFPA and State Farm are pleased to be working together again on this, our sixth Preparedness Day campaign," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. "Since our initial launch of Prep Day in 2013, we have watched participation continue to grow. In 2018 we saw devastating wildfires affect communities in California and across the United States, but we are encouraged and inspired by the number of residents who feel empowered to take the necessary action with regard to wildfire safety."

“State Farm finds it important to inform and encourage homeowners and communities to adopt effective wildfire mitigation programs that produce stronger, safer homes where lives are saved and a family’s largest investment is better protected,” said Vickie Hodges, underwriting analyst.

For more information about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, funding awards, project ideas and free resources to download, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org.
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Protect Your Home from Wildfire
• State Farm Wildfire Mitigation
• What to Do After a House Fire

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic grant program. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them. It is part of the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® initiative which inspires and empowers people to turn caring into doing.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of these Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Allison Bertsche, Public Affairs Director at State Farm.

At least one submission was received from each of the 50 states. The State Farm Review Committee selected the Top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions. In the seven years of the program, more than 250 causes have received a total of $7 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of this year’s Top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

In the News:

• Forbes:  4 Simple Things Every Leader Should Learn From Being Neighborly (9/28/18)

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic initiative. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of these Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President.

At least one submission was received from each of the 50 states. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions. In the six years of the program, 240 causes have received a total of $6 million to enact change in their communities.

For a complete list of the top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Help make your community’s cause one of 40 to receive a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grant. From August 16 through August 25, anyone with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com.

Voters can cast up to 10 votes per day. All 10 votes can go to one cause, or be split among causes. The top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced on Good Neighbor Day, September 28. Each affiliated non-profit receives a $25,000 grant.

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program. It empowers communities to identify causes that will have positive impact if funded. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists. The original field of 2000 included at least one cause application from every state.

“Neighborhood Assist is another example of State Farm successfully turning caring into doing in communities all across the U.S.” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “The communities themselves play an important role in inspiring people to rally and vote for these important causes.”

For a complete list of the top 200 causes or to vote for a cause, go to www.neighborhoodassist.com.

You might also be interested in:

• The Sound of Hope
• Childhood Poverty Just A Stone’s Throw Away
• A Young Life Lost: A Legacy of Safety
• Things Are Looking Up

At a time when wildfires are causing more damage to homes and businesses each year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm™ are helping communities take steps toward safety with the fourth national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day event (Preparedness Day) on May 6, 2017. Thanks to the generous support from State Farm, 150 communities will receive project funding awards to support activities aimed at reducing potential loss of life, property and natural resources to wildfire.

Recent wildfire events make the need for Preparedness Day clearer than ever before. Last year, 14 people lost their lives in Tennessee wildfires that burned more than 2,400 structures. During the past month, wind-driven wildfires across the Southeast and the Plains states have resulted in widespread damage, firefighter injuries, and the deaths of local residents. Preparedness Day is a reminder that there are many things we can do to be prepared for wildfire. The event serves as means to inspire and encourage residents to take the necessary action with regard to wildfire safety.

A total of 150 projects were selected from 420 entries that span 42 states and Washington, D.C. As a co-sponsor of Preparedness Day, State Farm, with its long history of providing proactive wildfire safety education to its policyholders in high-risk regions, is providing $500 each to help fund these winning community projects.

"Since NFPA and State Farm first partnered together on Preparedness Day, the number of entries has grown tremendously. We are pleased and encouraged to see these communities so dedicated to reducing the risk of wildfire in their area," said Vickie Hodges, P&C underwriting analyst. "For State Farm, the largest home insurer in the U.S., it is important to us to take a leadership role in helping homeowners stay safe and better protect their property."

To be eligible for an award, applicants provided a brief description of the proposed project and how the State Farm award would fund the project that will begin or be completed on May 6, 2017. Descriptions included how groups or individuals would work toward reducing the risk of wildfire or impact of a recent fire, and/or advance preparedness for wildfire in the community.

For more information about national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day and to see the list of winning projects and their locations, please visit www.wildfireprepday.org.

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

Resources:

• www.nfpa.org.
• Wildfire Education
• Firewise
• Creating a Home Inventory
• Protect Your Home from Wildfire
• State Farm Wildfire Mitigation
• What to Do After a House Fire

In just 10 days, 72,000 people cast 1.8 million votes. As a result, 40 communities, in 25 states, will be getting an assist from State Farm. The $25,000 Farm Neighborhood Assist grants will fund improvements in those communities.  

State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced, philanthropic initiative. It empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods. Non-profits affiliated with each of the top 40 causes receive grants to address them.

“State Farm is here to help life go right in neighborhoods all across the country. We look forward to seeing the changes in these 40 communities because of the Neighborhood Assist grants,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President – Human Resources.

At least one submission was received from each of the 50 states. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) selected the top 200 finalists from 2,000 submissions. The YAB is a diverse group of 30 students passionate about social responsibility. In the past five years, the program has awarded a total of $5 million to enact local community change.

For a complete list of the top 40 causes, please visit: www.neighborhoodassist.com.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (August 23, 2016) – Neighbors across the country will soon have an exciting opportunity to help change their communities for the better through State Farm Neighborhood Assist^®. This philanthropic program awards 40 causes a $25,000 grant. Anyone in the United States can submit a cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com from Sept. 1-Sept. 15. Ultimately, voters will decide which community improvement projects win big.

Returning for its fifth year, State Farm Neighborhood Assist asks individuals to identify causes that would help make their communities safer, stronger, and smarter. Up to 2,000 causes will be accepted. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board (YAB) will then narrow down the field, using a scoring rubric to identify the top 200 submissions. The public will have a chance to vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days from Oct. 26-Nov. 4 for their favorite causes from the list of finalists. Voting will take place at www.neighborhoodassist.com. The 40 causes that receive the most votes will win a $25,000 grant.

Since the program began, State Farm has awarded $4 million to communities across North America, supporting a wide variety of causes, including fighting childhood hunger, helping homeless veterans, revitalizing parks, improving literacy, and offering athletic programs for children with disabilities.

“Through State Farm Neighborhood Assist, you can help life go right, right in your neighborhood,” said Kellie Clapper, State Farm Assistant Vice President. “From identifying an important cause to rallying your community to vote for it, this program is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”

Last year, people cast millions of votes for their favorite causes, selecting winners from small towns and big cities.

Key Dates for 2016 State Farm Neighborhood Assist:

• Sept. 1-Sept. 15: Submit causes
• Sept. 16-Oct. 21: YAB identifies top 200 finalists
• Oct. 26-Nov. 4: Vote for causes
• Nov. 30: State Farm announces winners

About the Youth Advisory Board

The Youth Advisory Board is comprised of 30 students, ages 17-20, from across the United States and Canada who serve a two-year term. Their directive is to implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to youth and communities. The Board is completely autonomous and youth-driven, and funds projects focused on issues selected by the board that impact youth. It consists of a diverse group of full-time students at high schools and universities. Each member commits about 15 hours a month to the Board and participates in three face-to-face meetings per calendar year. The Board will fund the 40 grants awarded through the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program with a portion of its $5 million funding in 2016. For more information on the Youth Advisory Board, visit www.statefarmyab.com.

Julia Sleeper learned of the negative stigma associated with the “tree streets” in Lewiston, ME, when a college professor advised her not to visit that section of town. People there were considered dangerous.

However, Julia did not listen to her professor’s warning. What Julia found were low-income residents, looking to improve their lives and the lives of their children.

In 2005, Julia began an outreach program, helping local students with homework. As needs grew beyond homework assistance, a group of individuals discussed the possibility of starting a summer youth program. In July 2011, Tree Street Youth Center opened to provide low-income youth the opportunity to learn and grow in a nurturing environment.

As the Center’s initiatives increased, so did the need of financial support. In early 2013, Julia submitted an application for the State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant program. Out of 3,000 applicants, the Center was selected as one of the Top 200. With the help of the community and Lewiston agent Lisa Laliberte, the Center received enough votes in the crowdsourced program to win one of 40 $25,000 grants.

“What I have learned from the grant program is it is not the size of the community, but rather, the size of the heart of the community that makes winning a grant possible,” said Laliberte. “Neighborhood Assist empowers individuals to identify issues in their communities and provides funding to help create a positive impact.”

Each day, the Center serves between 120-150 youth grades K-12. Nearly all youth at the Center live at or below the poverty level. Services include academic/tutoring support, safe space mentoring, arts and cultural enrichment, leadership programs and college prep support. So far this academic year (Since September 2014) they have served 365 different youth with new students joining weekly.

“Since receiving funding from State Farm we were able to double our enrichment class offering, while providing both volunteers and staff with proper supplies and space,” said Sleeper.

All enrichment classes are offered to youth at no cost to families and are open to all students at the Center.